Third-place freshman Kaitlyn Howe leads Wildcats in NWOC tournament

It wasnt going to be easy to catch Liberty.

Soggy conditions, long grass and plugged balls only made April 1 more difficult for the Wilsonville girls golf team, which took second place behind the defending league champion during a Northwest Oregon Conference tournament at Broadmoor Golf Course in Portland.

The Wildcats finished with 158 points in the modified Stableford scoring system as the Falcons (176) cruised to the front of the pack amid tough playing conditions. Sandy (139), Sherwood (106) and St. Helens (23) rounded out the team scores.

Wilsonville freshman Kaitlyn Howe scored a team-high 52 points  including five on the 10th hole  to finish in third place on the individual leaderboard behind Liberty stalwarts Stephanie Miller (60) and McKenzie Oster (58).

It was the second top-five performance of the season for Howe, who carded 57 points to take fourth place March 17 at Sah-Hah-Lee Golf Course in Clackamas.

Returning all-league honoree Audrey Chames took fourth overall with a 51 after earning runner-up honors with a 65 at Sah-Hah-Lee, where the Wildcats posted another second-place finish behind Liberty.

Megan Stites (30), Kara Gilbert (25) and Annika Oetken (21) rounded out Wilsonvilles lineup at Broadmoor. It was the first official competition of the season for Gilbert, who missed the season-opening tournament due to injury.

The Wildcats will return to action April 8 at Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City. They are also scheduled to play April 15 at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course in Newberg.